Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-13
Repudiating the Blaine Idea.

The Chicago Tribune, which has been
for Blaine first, last and all the time,
can't stand the lingo statesmans plan
for reducing the surplus by cutting off
the tobacco taxes and inaugurating sys-
TEN of public plumber and extravaganza.
Its reputation of the Blaine platform is
emphatic, and significant of the republic
can feeling in the northwest on the SUBJ
ject Of monopoly taxes. 1t takes posi-
ton along with President Cleveland and
the democratic party, and urges the res
publican members of congress to Join in
the work OF tariff reduction as means
not only of relieving the people from uu.
necessary burdens, but also to save the
party from public condemnation:
But here is what the Tribune says in
regard to Blalne's manifesto
Mr.. Blaine's general position in this
interview is that the war tariff shall be
perpetusted; that tobacco, which he
oddly includes among "the necessaries
of life.' shall be made free of tax, and
that congress must devise methods for
sqIandering the surplus by building for
tiications that may be blown to smlther>
Gems by the next improvement of dyna-
mite weapons, instead of removing it by
the obvious and natural plan suggested
by the president This position will not
commend itself to the American people,
for unquestionsbly an immense majOrty
believe in RENTING large share of these
oppressive tariff taxes which bear upon
the producing and consuming classes
with crushing weight. IL is the weakest
ground Mr.. Blaine has ever occupied,
and no national party can expect to go
into q presidential campaign on that
issue, no matter who may be its leader,
and win. The surplus question
must be settled in some way. and in
different way from what it has been set
tied. 1t cannot be settled in accordance
with the Blaine idea.
Evidently the time for parting between
the Tribune and Blaine has come, and by
that same token the signs are not want
ing of a revenue reform hegira from the
republican party all over the country in
the event that Balne's plan is adopted
as the party doctrine on this question.
In this connection the resignation of
Charles Fl. Knox from the republican
county committee of New York City is
significant, as the following extract
therefrom will show;
On the tariff also find myself opposed
to the republican party, 1t is not wise
nor proper to keep up war taxes in time
profound peace. Not only is money un-
necessarily taken from the people but
great surplus leads to improper expendi>
lures. In regard to pensions no one be-
lieves more than | do in liberal pensions
to the brave men who fought our coun-
try's battles, but | am persuaded that the
honest soldiers do not approve of The
greatly increased pensions provided for
by the bill the president vetoed
And here is what Governor McGIll, the
republican governor of Minnesota, Gays
In response to an inquiry by the New
York Herald as to his views on President
Cleveland's position:
do Lot care 10 be quoted at length, if
at all. The people of the northwest are
naturally tariff reformers. Democrats
and republicans find no difference on this
material issue. The result is that am
glad to see the president take such rad
ical position on the subject, l am sure
1t will meet with general approval all
over the northwest. speak as citizen
OF the northwest and not as republican.
The Chicago 1ribune's reputation of
the blaine idea" Mr., Knox's letter and
governor McGill's interview are three of
the many straws which show how the
wind is blowing.